Pictured from left to right is State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Carol Zajac, Duncan Anderson, Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, Saint Paul's Director of the Medical Assistant program David Valte, and Assemblywoman Grace Meng.

Saint Paul's School of Nursing in Queens held a grand opening celebration for its new Rego Park campus last week. Several local officials joined the ceremony to speak about features to be offered through the campus and their hope for the organization's future.

“We're very excited to be moving our space into this location,” said campus president Carol Zajac.

Zajac discussed the curriculum at the school's new location that will help prepare students for associate degrees in nursing, offering skills for entry-level employment to work in a medical office or clinic. She said that over the next few years, the organization is hoping to add an associate dental degree and a bachelor’s degree of nursing to the organization's professional choices.

Formerly known as Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers School of Nursing, Duncan Anderson, the president and CEO of Education Affiliates, said the organization had been working with government officials to help solve local needs through its comprehensive nursing education program, which sees approximately 200 associate nursing students graduate annually.

“What you see around here are excited students, excited faculty and a great facility,” Anderson said. “I hope there's more of that in the future.”

The new location will offer multiple laboratories and student areas, including SIMS, skills, science and medical assistant labs.

Congresswoman-elect and Assemblywoman Grace Meng also came out to show support for the center.

“I'm really excited to have such a wonderful beginning and investment in our community,” Meng said. “And the State Legislature has worked for many years to ensure the safety of the nursing community.”